Iran‘s foreign ministry spokesman on Sunday dismissed as a "media game" a recent report in an Arabic daily about a secret arms deal with Syria allegedly made in return for an agreement that Damascus would not hold peace talks with Israel.

Mohammad Ali Hosseini refused to provide confirmation of the deal and questioned how the media would know about it if it was confidential. "This is a media game," said Hosseini during his weekly news briefing. "It is not confirmed."

The deal was allegedly signed Thursday when Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad visited Syria, said the A Sharq Al Awsat newspaper. Israeli media later highlighted the report. The London-based newspaper reported Saturday that Iran would provide $1 billion to Syria for advanced weapons procurement and would assist the country with nuclear research and the development of chemical weapons, with the understanding that Damascus would not negotiate peace with Israel.